Pakistani polio cases are 19 as the infant is infected with Lakki Marwat

• The NIH Regional Reference Laboratory confirms the case.
• 12 cases mentioned in South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa so far.
• Concerns about transmitting the virus to high -risk areas refreshed.

Islamabad: The total number of Pakistani polio cases in 2025 has increased to 19 after a five -month -old baby from the Lakki Marwat area in South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who was positively tested for the virus, he was confirmed by health officials.

The latter case, mentioned by the Council of the Sulemankhel Union, is the 12th infection detected in the province this year, according to the Regional Reporting Laboratory for the Elimination of Poliomyelitis at the National Institute of Health (NIH).

Detection has rejuvenated concerns for families in the area, where polio remains a persistent threat to young children despite continuing elimination efforts.

Communities must understand that repetitive vaccination is essential for the protection of each child from polio, according to health officials.

Multiple doses are required to build and maintain immunity. Any non -vaccinated child remains at risk and can contribute to further transmission of the virus.

Polio is an extremely infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. The only effective protection is through repetitive doses of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) for each child under five during each campaign, along with the timely completion of all basic immunerations.

Despite significant improvements in the quality of polio vaccination campaigns at national level, the southern areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remain a key area of concern due to limited access, lack of female vaccines and home vaccination.

These obstacles continue to hinder immunization efforts in the southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, leaving thousands of non -vaccinated children.

In the past year, Pakistan PEI has made significant progress. Since September 2024, six high quality immunization campaigns, including four national campaigns, have successfully reached over 45 million children each.

The National Emergency Business Center plans to conduct two nationally and one sub -national campaign between September and December 2025, in addition to targeted campaigns in selected high -risk areas.

These continuous efforts are necessary to stop the transmission of polio and to protect children throughout the country.

A special high -level meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary KP, Shahab Ali Shah, at Peshawar on August 2 and 3.

Regional teams from South KP have presented customized operational plans that highlight microplanning innovations, GAP analyzes and strategies to tackle persistent challenges in high -risk areas.

After in -depth discussions, a map of consensus was completed, aligning regional strategies with the provincial vision of a KP without polio.

The next polio vaccination campaign in Pakistan will begin on September 1, with particular emphasis on high -risk and priority areas, including South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The campaign aims to vaccinate all children under the age of five, quickly enhancing their immunity and closing any gaps.

Parents and carers were called upon to ensure that their children were getting polio falls during this important campaign to protect them from lifelong paralysis.

Elimination of polio is a collective responsibility that requires unified efforts at all levels. While dedicated polio workers continue to provide life -saving vaccines, it is equally critical for parents and carers to ensure that their children receive every dose of polio vaccine.

Communities must play an active role by supporting vaccination efforts, dismantling misinformation and encouraging others to protect their children through early immunization.